Human Development & Family Studies

Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) is the study of how people develop physically, emotionally and socially within the context of the family and society. HDFS offers an interdisciplinary approach to individual and family development across the lifespan. Kent State's program focuses on child and adolescent development, adult development and aging, biological aspects of human development, family studies, intervention research, and developmental research methods. Students in HDFS will learn about the stages of development from infancy to adulthood, how to promote healthy family development, diversity and many other skills!

News and Information

NEWS: KENT STATE STUDENTS ACCEPTED INTO THE SUMMER OHIO SCHOLARS IN AGING PROGRAM

Congratulations to Julia Cuglewski (Gerontology), Karin Himstedt (Nursing Home Administration), Karli McDonald (Nursing Home Administration), Ana Petrovska (Nursing Home Administration), Genna Sink (Nursing Home Administration), and Charity Stackhouse (Nursing Home Administration), who have all been accepted into the Summer 2016 cohort of the Ohio Scholars in Aging Program jointly sponsored by the Ohio Department of Aging and Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education (OAGE).

NEWS: NEW MINORS IN HDFS AND NONPROFIT STUDIES

In an effort to better prepare students to meet the needs of area nonprofit and human service organizations the HDFS program offers minors in Human Development and Family Studies, Gerontology, and Nonprofit Studies. These minors are open to students from any major interested in contributing to the quality of life and well being of individuals and families across the lifespan. Please contact Dr. Kelly Cichy at kcichy@kent.edu or Kathy Bergh at kbergh@kent.edu for more information.

Mary Beddell received her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) from Kent State in 2006. Currently, she is the public relations director for Plain Local Schools in Canton and the chapter manager for the Ohio School Public Relations Association. In 2009, Mary founded the Josette Beddell Memorial Foundation to help the better the lives of families in Ohio affected by cancer by providing direct financial assistance to families in need. In addition to her other roles, Mary continues to actively give back to the HDFS program at Kent State. She frequently visits classes and shares her experiences with current HDFS students, while serving as a strong role model for all current and future EHHS students.

NEWS: HDFS PROGRAM WELCOMES NEW POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR

Drs. Greg Smith and Kelly Cichy received an internal award from the Division of Research and Sponsored Programs to support a full-time Post-doctoral Research Fellowship focused on research on stress, social support, and healthy aging. Drs. Smith and Cichy are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jeong Eun Lee (Jel) who joined their research team this fall as a Postdoctoral Scholar. Dr. Lee holds a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from the Pennsylvania State University, a Master's in Clinical Psychology from Northwestern University and Yonsei University, and a Bachelor's in Psychology from Yonsei University. Dr. Lee's research examines dyadic coping and social support between dyads in the context of chronic illness.

NEWS: STUDYING WELL-BEING OF CUSTODIAL GRANDMOTHERS & GRANDCHILDREN

University researchers in the College of Education, Health, and Human Services are engaged in a multimillion-dollar study of interventions for improving the psychological well-being of custodial grandmothers and the grandchildren for whom they provide full-time care.